Kenwyne back

SAFC 2 Wigan 0. Just the reserves, no special importance?

Think that and you are wrong. Kenwyne returned tonight, and played a good 65 minutes.

Pete Sixsmith, who will doubtless have more to say on the matter, wrote this at half time:

“Kenwyne strolled through the first half. 1-0 up.”

Gordon Taylor, from the Blackcats forum:

Kenwyne “looks very well..one superb header to set up Cooke and one nice turn and shot from a distance”

Back for Saturday?

Who knows…..but I produced this at half time for a fellow SAFC exile, Chris Sturdy, who writes a column on the Premier League at a South African site:


Until recent years, thoughts of Wear-Tyne Derbys brought no real pleasure. Not, at any rate, thoughts of those experienced at first hand.

I have grim memories of being completely drenched while losing 3-0 at St James’ when I was a young lad. I have seen unremarkable and long forgotten games at Roker Park. And, inevitably, I’d moved away by the time Gary Rowell got his hat-trick and when the Lads beat the Mags in the playoffs.

But I do remember thumping my right hand down on the kitchen worktop in west London on hearing radio coverage of the Quinn and Phillips goals that brought us victory in some more driving rain back in 1999.

And next season I was there as we repeated the 2-1 triumph. Behind, deservedly, to Bellamy’s early strike, we responded magnificently in the second half with goals from Hutchison and Quinn. The winner was a wonder to behold from high up in the gods as the ball moved smartly from Sorensen downfield before being crossed to Niall’s waiting head. And then Tommy saved Shearer’s late penalty.

I’d invited a American friend to join me at the game. Afterwards I floated on air as we walked back to meet the girls, his girlfriend and my wife, after their hard afternoon slog in Fenwicks. “Y’now”, he drawled, “England’s hot shot had a free kick in from 10 feet, and the goalie blocked it! Awesome!”

Awesome indeed. I will settle for 2-1 again in our favour on Saturday. Can Kenwyne please come on and score both?

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